Automatic and manual lens focusing system with visual matching for motion picture camera

Abstract

An automatic lens focusing system according to the present invention includes an adjustable focus lens having a driver for focusing the lens on a photographic subject, a lens position detecting device to detect a focus position of the lens, a distance detecting device to detect a subject distance from the lens and generate a range signal representation of the range to the photographic subject, automatic actuating device responsive to the range signal for activating the driver to adjust the position of the lens to focus on the photographic subject, an indicating device responsive to the range signal for activating a first indicator indicative of the focal point of the subject and responsive to the lens setting for activating a second indicator indicative of the range setting of the lens, a manual actuator responsive to a manual input to for activating the driver to focus the lens, and a switching device to switch between the automatic mode and the manual mode.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A camera lens focusing system with an automatic mode and a manual mode for focusing a camera on a moving photographic subject, comprising: 
 an adjustable focus lens having a driver for focusing the lens on a photographic subject;    a lens position detecting device to detect a focus position of the lens;    a distance detecting device to detect a subject distance from the lens and generate a range signal representation of the range to the photographic subject:    automatic actuating means responsive to the range signal for activating the driver to adjust the position of the lens to focus on the photographic subject;    an indicating device responsive to said range signal for activating a first indicator indicative of the focal point of said subject and responsive to the lens setting for activating a second indicator indicative of the range setting of the lens;    manual actuating means responsive a manual input to activate the driver to focus the lens; and    a switching device to switch between the automatic mode and the manual mode.    
     
     
         2 . A lens focusing system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first indicator and the second indicator comprise a pair of adjacent parallel moveable lines.  
     
     
         3 . A lens focusing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first indicator and the second indicator comprise a pair of adjacent parallel rows of lights . . .  
     
     
         4 . A lens focusing system according to  claim 3 , wherein the rows of lights are LEDS.  
     
     
         5 . A lens focusing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first indicator and the second indicator comprise a pair of needles moveable from a common position on a scale.  
     
     
         6 . A lens focusing system according to  claim 5 , wherein said pair of needles pivot about a common axis.  
     
     
         7 . A lens focusing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the distance detecting device comprises a radar distance measuring device.  
     
     
         8 . A lens focusing system according to  claim 7 , wherein the radar distance measuring device includes at least one transponder.  
     
     
         9 . A lens focusing system according to  claim 8 , wherein the radar distance measuring device transmits of about 10 nanoseconds in length at about a 100 kilohertz rate.  
     
     
         10 . A lens focusing system according to  claim 8 , wherein the radar distance measuring device operates within a frequency range of about 10.5 GHz to about 21 GHz.  
     
     
         11 . A system for automatically and manually focusing a camera, said system comprising 
 first radio signal generating and transmitting means carried by the camera to be focused for generating and transmitting a first radio signal at a first frequency toward a photographic subject;    second radio generating and transmitting means carried by the photographic subject and responsive to said first radio signal for generating and transmitting a second radio signal at a second frequency that is significantly higher than the first frequency;    a microwave antenna carried by the camera for receiving the second radio signal and included in the first transmitting means for radiating the first radio signal;    means for measuring the time interval between the transmittal of the first radio signal and the receipt of the second radio signal and for generating a range signal that is representative of said measurement;    means carried by the camera for adjusting the focus of the camera in response to the range signal    a switching device to switch between the automatic mode and the manual mode    an indicating device responsive to said range signal for activating a first indicator indicative of the focal point of said subject and responsive to the lens setting for activating a second indicator indicative of the range setting of the lens; and    manual actuating means responsive a manual input to for activating the driver to focus lens.    
     
     
         12 . A lens focusing system according to  claim 11 , wherein said first indicator and the second indicator comprise a pair of adjacent parallel moveable lines.  
     
     
         13 . A lens focusing system according to  claim 11 , wherein the first indicator and the second indicator comprise a pair of adjacent parallel rows of lights.  
     
     
         14 . A lens focusing system according to  claim 11 , wherein the first indicator and the second indicator comprise a pair of needles moveable from a common position on a scale.  
     
     
         15 . A lens focusing system according to  claim 14 , wherein said pair of needles pivot about a common axis.  
     
     
         16 . A method of selectively automatically and manually focusing a camera, said method comprising the steps of; 
 generating a first radio signal and transmitting the first radio signal from the camera to be focused toward a photographic subject;    responding to said first radio signal by generating a second radio signal and transmitting the second radio signal from the photographic subject;    receiving the second radio signal at the camera;    measuring the time interval between the transmittal of the first radio signal and the receipt of the second radio signal and generating a range signal that is representative of said measurement;    adjusting the focus of the camera in response to the range signal in an automatic mode;    switching to a manual mode of focusing;    providing a first indicator in response to the range signal of range to the subject;    providing a second indicator of the focus setting; and    manually adjusting the second indicator to the first indicator to adjust the focus setting to a desirable match with the range of the subject.    
     
     
         17 . A method of focusing a camera according to  claim 16 , wherein the steps of: 
 providing a first indicator comprises providing a first movable line: and    providing a second indicator comprises providing a movable line adjacent to and parallel to said first line.    
     
     
         18 . A method of focusing a camera according to  claim 16 , wherein the steps of: 
 providing a first indicator comprises providing a first movable row of lights: and    providing a second indicator comprises providing a second movable row of lights adjacent to and parallel to said first row.    
     
     
         19 . A method of focusing a camera according to  claim 16 , wherein the steps of: 
 providing a first indicator comprises providing a first movable needle: and    providing a second indicator comprises providing a second movable needle adjacent to and moveable from a common position on a scale to said first needle.    
     
     
         20 . A method of focusing a camera according to  claim 19 , wherein the steps of: 
 providing a first movable needle: and    providing a second movable needle comprises providing said pair of needles pivot about a common axis.